Overview
The 2027 la Caixa Junior Leader Retaining call offers 20 three-year postdoctoral fellowships for excellent STEM researchers who meet the programme's mobility requirements and will work at a university or research centre in Spain or Portugal.
Complete research opportunity details
Each fellowship has a maximum total budget of €320,100 over three years. The official 2027 rules set a minimum annual gross salary of €47,000, dedicated research-project funding, mobility and family support where applicable, and a required secondment. The deadline is 23 September 2026 at 14:00 CEST.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants of any nationality must meet the call's postdoctoral-experience rules, including holding a PhD within the permitted 2–7 year window before the deadline, subject to official extensions. Retaining applicants must have accumulated at least six months of research stays outside Spain and Portugal and must have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the proposed host institution for more than 12 months during the three years immediately before the deadline. The project must be in STEM.
Tips for this postdoctoral opportunity
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Match your research background to the project, laboratory, supervisor and required methods rather than applying only from the title.
- Prepare a focused academic CV, transcripts, publications and research statement or proposal when requested by the official call.
- Confirm funding duration, stipend/salary, tuition coverage, start date and eligibility for international applicants.
- Contact a supervisor before applying only when the official instructions recommend or require it.
Verification notes
Verified against the official la Caixa Foundation Retaining call page and the 2027 call rules on 26 August 2026. The rules state 20 fellowships and a 23 September 2026 deadline at 14:00 CEST.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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